Daisies
Dawn and Brandon run away together to New York City to escape their troubles. (Dawn/Brandon)
"You comin'?"
Dawn blinks back to reality. There is Brandon, so close to her she could taste the sweat from his lips. Here they were, in Brandon's filthy room, about to make huge decisions.
Dawn wants to be his girlfriend; Brandon wants to run away before he's shipped off to military school. Two completely different issues that somehow seem to fit together, like convoluted puzzle pieces. Now Dawn is at the crossroads; to stay or to go.
Dawn doesn't know what to do; the rational part of her is aware of the consequences of leaving with him. Knowing what her parents told her about runaways, they won't make it far. With any luck, they would reach a landmark before they could call it quits and head back home. If they can survive homelessness, possible sickness, and drugs, that is. Dawn imagines sleeping on a park bench while Brandon pick pockets a newlywed couple for money. She imagines them on the street, begging for change and food. She imagines getting strung out in the alleyway with no one rushing to help her when she passes out. Worst case scenario, they could be dead in a week and no one would even care or notice, especially her own parents. The thought depresses her.
But the other part of her is reminded of her dreary existence: the teasing, the humiliation, the psychological mind-fuckery Lolita inflicted on her, the loss of a good friend from one awful word. The broken heart from a guy who will never love her, the isolation from her self absorbed parents. That spoiled little brat that has the audacity to call itself her little sister. She finds no valuable reason to stay. The whole world hates her, her parents don't care at all about her, and no matter what she does, she screws up and make a situation worse for herself than it should be. She lost her clubhouse, lost her best friend, and she just might lose the only boy who took interest in her.
If she left right now, who would honestly care, or even notice? Her parents are too wrapped up in her baby sister going missing, and her brother is too invested in his college career. And when she's gone, she won't have to face those awful kids and their disgusting behaviors.
Wiener dog.
Ugly.
Dog Face.
Lesbo.
Cunt.
Cruel words etched into her locker.
Cruel words hurled at her as she sits down to eat her lunch.
The spitballs thrown into her hair.
The late-night crying sessions when the teasing got too much.
She wanted to get away from it all.
"You comin'?" Brandon repeats, louder than before.
"Don't go," Dawn replies, reaching to grab his hand. He yanks it away.
"I have to. Now you comin' or not, asshole?"
She looks back at him. His normally harsh eyes soften, as if pleading with her to go. Despite his mean behavior, he still wants her there. He still wants her by his side. He still likes her. He is the first and possibly the only boy who will ever like her. The only one who understands.
Dawn swallows and takes a deep breath. She looks him in the eye and smiles.
"Let's get out of here."
AN: This is a fanfic from the film Welcome to the Dollhouse. It's an Alternative Universe to when {spoilers}. I love this film, and I sort of wanted Dawn-centric fan fics because dammit she's earned it! Warning: sex themes, drugs, violence, and strong language may occur.